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27 October 2023 | Story Jóhann Thormählen | Photo Jóhann Thormählen
Shimlas celebrate Ox Nche with chocolate cake
At the University of the Free State Rugby Club’s Annual General Meeting and prize-giving on Monday, Shimla props celebrated Ox Nche’s World Cup semi-final performance against England and wished him good luck for the final. They ate chocolate cake – something Nche has become renowned for – like he used to do when he played for the Shimlas. Here, from the left, front, are Loyiso Peteni, Frankie dos Reis, Johan Schutte, and Henty Beukes. At the back from the left, are Conley Pieterse and Musa Knosi.

The University of the Free State (UFS), the UFS Rugby Club, and the Shimlas are backing the Boks all the way in the World Cup final and are immensely proud of all the former Kovsies involved.

The UFS community pledged its unwavering support to the Springboks before the World Cup and wishes the team all the best to claim a record fourth title against New Zealand this weekend.

The Kovsies have had either team or management members as part of each previous South African World Cup winning side (1995, 2007 and 2019) and believe the Boks can do it again.

They face New Zealand in the final on Saturday (28 October 2023) at 21:00 in Paris, France.

Five former Kovsies will be involved in the epic encounter against South Africa’s rivals.

Four of them – Jacques Nienaber (head coach), Rassie Erasmus (South Africa’s Director of Rugby), Daan Human (scrum coach), and Bongani Tim Qumbu (strength and conditioning coach) – form part of the Springbok team management.

The former Shimla Ox Nche, who became a national hero after his superb scrum performance in the semi-final against England last weekend, will once again make an impact from the bench against the All Blacks.

“The Springboks are the pride of South Africa, and we are particularly proud of our UFS alumni who are part of the team – both players and coaches. The weekend ahead looks promising for the Boks, and we wish the team only the best,” says Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS. 

Proud Kovsies

“We wish the Springboks all the best for the final,” said Marius van Rensburg, UFS Rugby Club Chairman.

“We would love to see the Boks, and some of our former Shimlas and Kovsies, hold up the World Cup trophy again.”  

Jaco Swanepoel, Head of Rugby at KovsieSport, said it is truly remarkable to have so many former Kovsies part of the Springboks.

According to him, it also shows that the UFS played a successful role in their development.

“We are incredibly proud that they have already gone so far in their careers and that they are flying the UFS flag at this high level in the World Cup.”

Ox example to others

Nche, who was crowned Varsity Cup Young Guns champion in 2014 and Varsity Cup champion with the Shimlas in 2015, played a massive role in South Africa’s 16-15 victory over England.

Van Rensburg and Swanepoel points out Nche’s humbleness as one of his greatest characteristics.

Nche was still staying in House Abraham Fischer on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus when he was playing for the Cheetahs.

“He finished his degree while playing professional rugby,” Swanepoel said.

“It says a lot about his determination, despite his busy programme, to finish his degree.”

“He is an example for every player who puts on the blue jersey.”

According to Van Rensburg, Nche is also very loyal to the UFS rugby club.

“He makes no secret of the fact that he found his feet at the Shimlas. He was a good player at school too, but at the Shimlas he was outstanding.”

“To this day, he acknowledges how good the Shimlas were to him.”

Swanepoel believes South Africa can claim another World Cup title.

“The Springboks just need to believe in themselves and stand together. We wish them all the best for the World Cup final.”

News Archive

Little ‘Devil’s Worm’ on Top 10 New Species list
2012-05-29

 

Halicephalobus mephisto (Devil’s Worm)
Photo: Supplied
29 May 2012

A minuscule little worm found and researched with the assistance of researchers at the university has made it onto the list of Top 10 New Species of the world. The list was published by the International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE) at Arizona State University and a committee of scientists from around the world. It lists the top ten new species described in 2011.

An article on the new worm species appeared in the authoritative journal Nature in June 2011.
 
Prof. Esta van Heerden, leader of the university’s research team, says, “In our wildest dreams, we could not have imagined that we would get so much reaction from the worm’s discovery. We had to do so many checks and balances to convince Nature that the worm could survive in the old and warm water. We were very excited when the article was accepted but the media reaction was unbelievable.”
 
The tiny nematode, Halicephalobus mephisto (Devil’s Worm) of about 0,5 mm in length, is the deepest-living terrestrial multi-cellular organism on earth. It was discovered in the Beatrix gold mine near Welkom at a depth of 1,3 km.
 
The IISE says in a statement the species is remarkable for surviving immense underground pressure as well as high temperatures. The borehole water where this species lives has not been in contact with the earth’s atmosphere for the last 4 000 to 6 000 years.  
 
This top-10 list includes a sneezing monkey; a beautiful, but venomous jellyfish; a fungus named after a popular TV cartoon character; a night-blooming orchid; an ancient walking cactus creature; and a tiny wasp. A vibrant poppy, a giant millipede and a blue tarantula also made it onto the list.
 
The international selection committee made its choice from more than 200 nominations. They looked for species that captured the attention because they were unusual or because they had bizarre traits. Some of the new species have interesting names.
 
Prof. Van Heerden says, “We are very thankful for the exposure that the university gets as a result of the inclusion on the list and we enjoy the international cooperation immensely.”

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